There once was a gunman named Clive
That wanted to feel so alive,
So he picked up his gun,
Said, “Let’s have some fun”,
And used the handle to pick his nose.

...OK, that’s not the story.  Basically, your sweetheart has been kidnapped...Go save them!  That’s the story.  Sound familiar?  Yup, it’s the story of Super Mario Brothers, Zelda (sometimes), Halo...erm, scratch that last one.

Basically, the story is just a setup for the gameplay.  And what deep gameplay it has.  The controls, however; are simple.  Jump with the B button, shoot with Y.  If you’re playing as Ms. Johnson, you can hold the jump button to glide like Princess Peach Toadstool.  You can also “duck” by pressing the control stick/pad down.  This allows you to get enemies closer to the ground.

The goal is to make it to the end of the level as fast as you can, while taking as little damage as possible (you get a “No Damage” indicator
if you’ve beaten a level without taking damage).  If you die, you’ll have to start the level over.

There are also three difficulty levels; however, these simply represent how much health you’ll have at the start of each level.  The difficulty level cannot be changed once you have selected it.  There are; however, three file slots, so if you want a change, you can do it in an alternate slot.

There are 20 levels throughout the game; every 5 levels is a boss.  The game will get you started with basic controls and enemies and ramps up the difficulty at a natural pace.  However, the feel of the game can take some getting used to, and might feel clunky to those used to Mario or Rayman.  It feels very much like a 2D Platformer of old, and that’s very much what it was made to resemble.

There is a great variety of enemies in the game.  At first, you’ll face basic enemies, such as foot men and ducks, but before too long you’ll face enemies from the air and underground.  Simply touching these enemies will do you damage, and many are shooting at you, dropping bombs or throwing dynamite.  It can be a rigorous challenge to memorize their locations and attack patterns, but is fun nonetheless.

There is also impeccable level design.  Lasers, moving platforms, spikes and more make their appearance, and can make it more difficult to not take damage in a level.  Often these things are placed at a near pixel-perfect length.  After a number of tries, it may be simple to see the best way to complete a level.  The difficulty is in the execution...and sometimes in randomness.  For example, in one level, rocks fall from the sky at an angle.  The perfect way through them will depend largely on how they are falling.  If you die and start over, it may change.  Little things like this help to bolster the game.

Mechanics may also shift from level to level.  For example, the aforementioned level has different gravity than other levels.  The player character will jump higher than usual.  In another level, you ride a rocket as the screen scrolls from left to right.  These levels are few, but are a welcome change of pace in the game.

The bosses of the game are easier than the rest of the game.  They may take a few tries, but once you learn their patterns, it’s largely a matter of execution.  They weren’t very difficult for me, and likely won’t be for you.  However, they are well-designed and their attacks feel inspired.  Every moment fighting them was a blast.

The graphics are also fantastic!  They have a pencillic, hand-drawn aesthetic to them.  The color is largely that of burnt Sienna (reddish-brown).  It really helps to sell the “Western” theme of the game.  The 3D doesn’t do much to improve it, however.

And the music is also worthy of high praise.   It truly drives the action beyond its simplicity.  It is exciting, and often action-packed.  “Space-Cowboy” is my favorite track from the soundtrack.  It is simple, yet highly layered, and has a very nice beat to it.

Link to playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWTqNGUFF0g&index=1&list=PLsop0x-ANHOT8qe11hIpi0sdqp2wK6H3c

Overall, this game may not be for younger children.  It’s not low on challenge.  But if you’re looking for a game and are ready for a challenge, there is perhaps no better game on the eshop to spend your $2 on (However, it’s currently in the Humble Nindie Bundle until Tuesday at 1:00 Vizzed Time!)

Presentation: 10/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10

Overall: 9/10

One last note: There is an unlockable character.  This character is a duck.  You simply fly through the levels while trying not to get hit.  It's really the icing on the cake.  It just makes an already great game better.

Interesting review! I never knew this game existed. It sounds like a nice love letter to classic games. Well, with some very nice hand-drawn visuals instead of pixels. The game looks pretty good. And this was a great review.

A user of this : It is indeed.  I bought it a while back, and have replayed it a number of times.  It was money well spent.  And thanks for the compliment!  

Although your structure was a little confusing - you seem to mix gameplay, graphics and difficulty together - the review was nicely done enough. You do give comparisons with other games of the genre, which is always good in my book.